Izzo (H.O.V.A.)


"Izzo " is the first single released by Jay-Z from his sixth album The Blueprint. It is among his most popular singles. This was the second song released off The Blueprint, after the diss track "Takeover", but the lead single from it. The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was Jay-Z's first top 10 single as a lead artist.
The song, produced by Kanye West, prominently features a sample of "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, the second major hit in 2001 to sample that song.
Jay-Z premiered the song live, at the inaugural BET Awards on June 19, 2001.
The song was later mashed up with Linkin Park's "In the End" for their collaborative EP, Collision Course.

Lawsuit

On October 31, 2001, a copyright lawsuit was filed against Jay-Z by Demme Ulloa, who claimed that she was wasn't paid for her contribution to "Izzo". Ulloa asserted that it was her singing "H to the izzo/V to the izzay", though she didn't receive any money for her contribution and was not credited in the liner notes of The Blueprint. The case was dismissed in 2004.

Music video

The music video takes place in New York City with Jay-Z, Damon Dash, Biggs and other affiliates on a Roc-A-Fella parade float which features cameo appearances from Kanye West, Destiny's Child, Trina, Eve, Nelly and Outkast.

Charts